The City of Houston is taking steps to promote more sustainable and affordable growth in the City of Houston.

Approximately 1/3 of Houston’s energy consumption is driven by the residential sector and utility bills are rapidly outpacing inflation since deregulation.  The opportunity to make a positive impact on the environment is significant and therefore, the City began its energy efficiency initiative by promoting reduction of residential electrical power usage.  In February 2006, the City of Houston partnered with CenterPoint Energy, Houston’s electricity distribution company, and offered weatherization installation assistance to the entire Pleasantville community. 

Weatherization Assistance Program Pilot Project: Pleasantville

• 1,393 homes
• 56% qualified for Senior Homestead Exemption
• Median Income: $28,000
• Average Home Built: 1955
• Average Square Feet: 1,300
• 85% No Central AC
• kWh per square foot ratio one of the highest in the City of Houston

The City and CenterPoint set out on a mission to weatherize 500 homes by May 31, 2006.  Weatherization standard installation included weather stripping doors, caulking windows, adding insulation jackets to water heaters, replacing five of the most frequently used light fixtures with compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and adding insulation to attics.   By May 31, 2006, 610 homes in the Pleasantville community were weatherized, and an additional 31 homes were completed there after.

Following the installation, energy consumption was documented for summer and fall months (June through November) of 2005 and 2006 with a sample of 566 homes in the program. *  The sample shows combined summer and fall observations resulted in a savings of 20.2% in a year over year comparison.  Resulting in an average 6-month savings of $335 per household.

Due to the overwhelming response from citizens and the successful reduction in energy consumption, the City of Houston continues the Weatherization Assistance Program.  Phase II began in January 2007 with the Lindale Park and Scott Terrace communities, Phase III is scheduled to begin in Summer 2007. 

* Outlying data points were eliminated in which year over year consumption differential would indicate vacancy, or would suggest inaccurate information.